The requirements were updated in 2009, these requirements are out of date. <small>&mdash;Preceding [[Template:Unsigned|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Bassbusta|Bassbusta]] ([[User talk:Bassbusta|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Bassbusta|contribs]]) March 24, 1010. '''(Please, [[Help:Signatures|sign and date your posts]] on talk pages.)'''</small>

The requirements were updated in 2009, these requirements are out of date. <small>&mdash;Preceding [[Template:Unsigned|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Bassbusta|Bassbusta]] ([[User talk:Bassbusta|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Bassbusta|contribs]]) March 24, 1010. '''(Please, [[Help:Signatures|sign and date your posts]] on talk pages.)'''</small>

-

==NVU==

+

==NVU software==

Although still available, is no longer under development. It's replacement package is called [http://www.kompozer.net/ KompoZer], which shares much of the same source code as NVU, but had been updated to current coding standards. <small>&mdash;Preceding [[Template:Unsigned|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Brianmpenn|Brianmpenn]] ([[User talk:Brianmpenn|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Brianmpenn|contribs]]) December 29, 2007. '''(Please, [[Help:Signatures|sign and date your posts]] on talk pages.)'''</small>

Although still available, is no longer under development. It's replacement package is called [http://www.kompozer.net/ KompoZer], which shares much of the same source code as NVU, but had been updated to current coding standards. <small>&mdash;Preceding [[Template:Unsigned|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Brianmpenn|Brianmpenn]] ([[User talk:Brianmpenn|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Brianmpenn|contribs]]) December 29, 2007. '''(Please, [[Help:Signatures|sign and date your posts]] on talk pages.)'''</small>

''From January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2010, the requirements about copyrights read as follows:''

+

:9. Explain the following to your counselor:

+

::a. Why it is not permissible to accept a free copy of a copyrighted computer game or program from a friend.

+

::b. The restrictions and limitations of downloading music from the Internet.

+

::c. Why copyright laws exist.

+

+

''As of January 1, 2010, the (current) requirements about copyrights read as follows:''

+

:8. Explain the following to your counselor:

+

::a. Why copyright laws exist.

+

::b. Why it is not permissible to accept a paid, copyrighted computer game or program from a friend unless the game or program is considered freeware or shareware. Explain the concepts of freeware and shareware.

+

::c. The restrictions and limitations of downloading music from the Internet.

I have concerns about the wording of requirement 9.a. It gives the impression that it is always wrong to give or receive a copy of a computer program that is protected by copyright.

I have concerns about the wording of requirement 9.a. It gives the impression that it is always wrong to give or receive a copy of a computer program that is protected by copyright.

This is not necessarily true; nearly all open-source software programs are protected by copyright, and they encourage redistribution (i.e. giving copies to friends). For example, not only is it not illegal for me to make a copy of OpenOffice.org and give it to a friend, it would be encouraged by OpenOffice.org and Sun Microsystems (the copyright holder).

This is not necessarily true; nearly all open-source software programs are protected by copyright, and they encourage redistribution (i.e. giving copies to friends). For example, not only is it not illegal for me to make a copy of OpenOffice.org and give it to a friend, it would be encouraged by OpenOffice.org and Sun Microsystems (the copyright holder).

-

The requirement should be that scouts should not accept free copies of copyrighted software if redistribution is restricted. Are others simply adhering strictly to the requirement or going further and explaining it correctly to scouts? --[[User:Mryan|Mryan]] 20:03, February 6, 2008 (EST)

+

The requirement should be that Scouts should not accept free copies of copyrighted software '''''if''''' redistribution is restricted. Are others simply adhering strictly to the requirement or going further and explaining it correctly to Scouts? --[[User:Mryan|Mryan]] 20:03, February 6, 2008 (EST)

-

:I respectfully disagree. There are various types of copyrights and terms-of-usage. OpenOffice is licensed under GPL (Gnu Public License) and other packages fall under Apache or Mozilla Public License agreements, etc. Open source projects are hence deliberately not covered by conventional copyrights precisely in order to avoid this conflict and make this specific distinction. <small>&mdash;Preceding [[Template:Unsigned|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Tjk|Tjk]] ([[User talk:Tjk|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Tjk|contribs]]) 12:59, October 15, 2009. (Please, [[Help:Signatures|sign and date your posts]] on talk pages.)</small>

+

:I respectfully disagree. There are various types of copyrights and terms-of-usage. OpenOffice is licensed under GPL (Gnu Public License) and other packages fall under Apache or Mozilla Public License agreements, etc. Open source projects are hence deliberately not covered by conventional copyrights precisely in order to avoid this conflict and make this specific distinction. <small>&mdash;Preceding [[Template:Unsigned|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Tjk|Tjk]] ([[User talk:Tjk|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Tjk|contribs]]) 12:59, October 15, 2009. (Please, [[Help:Signatures|sign and date your posts]] on talk pages.)</small>

+

::I have to object as well. Copyright in terms of the legal concept is distinct from the licenses that are really the topic here, which define the agreement between the user and the copyright holder. I feel the merit badge is lopsided in it's treatment of these topics, but this is not the place for that discussion(right?).

-

I have to object as well. Copyright in terms of the legal concept is distinct from the licenses that are really the topic here, which define the agreement between the user and the copyright holder. I feel the merit badge is lopsided in it's treatment of these topics, but this is not the place for that discussion(right?).

+

::To avoid talking too much about the subject matter here, which we are asked not to do, I will observe that "Requirements resource #6" states that OpenOffice.org is a freeware office suite. OpenOffice.org is _not_ freeware in any sense. Wikipedia makes it clear that freeware does not refer to "free software"(ala free software foundation) and "open source" software(opensource.org). The OpenOffice.org website makes it clear OOo is LGPLv3, which makes it "free software" ala "Free Software Foundation's" definition. This is actually an important distinction that I feel should be corrected in "Requirements resource #6". I'm new here, so I guess I'll try my hand at the update, since that seems to be the intention of the site. I'm of course open to constructive correction however :-) --[[User:Bill5107|Bill5107]] 20:54, February 16, 2011 (EST)

-

To avoid talking too much about the subject matter here, which we are asked not to do, I will observe that "Requirements resource #6" states that OpenOffice.org is a freeware office suite. OpenOffice.org is _not_ freeware in any sense. Wikipedia makes it clear that freeware does not refer to "free software"(ala free software foundation) and "open source" software(opensource.org). The OpenOffice.org website makes it clear OOo is LGPLv3, which makes it "free software" ala "Free Software Foundation's" definition. This is actually an important distinction that I feel should be corrected in "Requirements resource #6". I'm new here, so I guess I'll try my hand at the update, since that seems to be the intention of the site. I'm of course open to constructive correction however :-)

+

:::''Bill5107'', I understand your points, which were well stated, BTW. However, since I have not read the details as covered in the ''current'' [[Computers]] merit badge pamphlet, I really can't say, exactly, how [http://scouting.org National] covers this issue, in detail; though, I would like to know. Maybe I'll pick up a copy and read what it has to say about this.

Requirement 6h and 7a are the same. Which is it? [[User:Gregoryo1|Gregoryo1]] 01:06, January 22, 2011 (EST)

Requirement 6h and 7a are the same. Which is it? [[User:Gregoryo1|Gregoryo1]] 01:06, January 22, 2011 (EST)

:While these two requirements are ''very'' similar, they are in fact correctly written. &mdash;'''''[[User:RWSmith|RWSmith]]''''' ''[[MeritBadgeDotOrg:Bureaucrat|(Bureaucrat)]]'', 10:29, January 22, 2011 (EST)

:While these two requirements are ''very'' similar, they are in fact correctly written. &mdash;'''''[[User:RWSmith|RWSmith]]''''' ''[[MeritBadgeDotOrg:Bureaucrat|(Bureaucrat)]]'', 10:29, January 22, 2011 (EST)

+

+

==Worksheet links==

+

The link to the worksheet goes to the old requirements from 2006. The full worksheets page has the correct worksheet on it with the new requirements. Can one of the main contributors update this link? This has been pretty challenging for the boys that I have been working with. <small>&mdash;Preceding [[Template:Unsigned|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Olsenku|Olsenku]] ([[User talk:Olsenku|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Olsenku|contribs]]) January 27, 2012. '''(Please, [[Help:Signatures|sign and date your posts]] on talk pages.)'''</small>

This is the Discussion page for discussing improvements to the associated article.Please place messages concerning errors or requested changes to the protected portions of the article on this Discussion page.This is not a forum for general discussion of the article's subject.

Articles have been created following a common format for all Merit Badges. Please help keep these articles in this format and help us add links to related requirements for other awards and external requirement resources.Answers, answer keys, cheat sheets, or links to them will be removed.

NVU software

Although still available, is no longer under development. It's replacement package is called KompoZer, which shares much of the same source code as NVU, but had been updated to current coding standards. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Brianmpenn (talk • contribs) December 29, 2007. (Please, sign and date your posts on talk pages.)

Copyrights discussion

Note: This heading was previously titled: "Requirement 9.a."

From January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2010, the requirements about copyrights read as follows:

9. Explain the following to your counselor:

a. Why it is not permissible to accept a free copy of a copyrighted computer game or program from a friend.

b. The restrictions and limitations of downloading music from the Internet.

c. Why copyright laws exist.

As of January 1, 2010, the (current) requirements about copyrights read as follows:

8. Explain the following to your counselor:

a. Why copyright laws exist.

b. Why it is not permissible to accept a paid, copyrighted computer game or program from a friend unless the game or program is considered freeware or shareware. Explain the concepts of freeware and shareware.

c. The restrictions and limitations of downloading music from the Internet.

I have concerns about the wording of requirement 9.a. It gives the impression that it is always wrong to give or receive a copy of a computer program that is protected by copyright.

This is not necessarily true; nearly all open-source software programs are protected by copyright, and they encourage redistribution (i.e. giving copies to friends). For example, not only is it not illegal for me to make a copy of OpenOffice.org and give it to a friend, it would be encouraged by OpenOffice.org and Sun Microsystems (the copyright holder).

The requirement should be that Scouts should not accept free copies of copyrighted software if redistribution is restricted. Are others simply adhering strictly to the requirement or going further and explaining it correctly to Scouts? --Mryan 20:03, February 6, 2008 (EST)

I respectfully disagree. There are various types of copyrights and terms-of-usage. OpenOffice is licensed under GPL (Gnu Public License) and other packages fall under Apache or Mozilla Public License agreements, etc. Open source projects are hence deliberately not covered by conventional copyrights precisely in order to avoid this conflict and make this specific distinction. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Tjk (talk • contribs) 12:59, October 15, 2009. (Please, sign and date your posts on talk pages.)

I have to object as well. Copyright in terms of the legal concept is distinct from the licenses that are really the topic here, which define the agreement between the user and the copyright holder. I feel the merit badge is lopsided in it's treatment of these topics, but this is not the place for that discussion(right?).

To avoid talking too much about the subject matter here, which we are asked not to do, I will observe that "Requirements resource #6" states that OpenOffice.org is a freeware office suite. OpenOffice.org is _not_ freeware in any sense. Wikipedia makes it clear that freeware does not refer to "free software"(ala free software foundation) and "open source" software(opensource.org). The OpenOffice.org website makes it clear OOo is LGPLv3, which makes it "free software" ala "Free Software Foundation's" definition. This is actually an important distinction that I feel should be corrected in "Requirements resource #6". I'm new here, so I guess I'll try my hand at the update, since that seems to be the intention of the site. I'm of course open to constructive correction however :-) --Bill5107 20:54, February 16, 2011 (EST)

Bill5107, I understand your points, which were well stated, BTW. However, since I have not read the details as covered in the currentComputers merit badge pamphlet, I really can't say, exactly, how National covers this issue, in detail; though, I would like to know. Maybe I'll pick up a copy and read what it has to say about this.

Field of study

How is it that computers is classified in "physical science"? FWIW, I suggest a "field" of Technology be created... but there could be a better way to put it. --Estrabd 15:10, January 3, 2010 (EST)

I understand your suggestion; but actually, there's a bit more to it than that. National determines what the fields of study are, as well as categorizing merit badges in those fields. While this categorization process technically remains in place, it is a throw-back to the days when advancement required a certain number of merit badges from different fields of study. That does not mean field of study is no longer relevant; it still is... at a national level, e.g., from a program perspective. —RWSmith(Bureaucrat), 13:37, May 14, 2010 (EDT)

Duplicate Requirement

Requirement 6h and 7a are the same. Which is it? Gregoryo1 01:06, January 22, 2011 (EST)

While these two requirements are very similar, they are in fact correctly written. —RWSmith(Bureaucrat), 10:29, January 22, 2011 (EST)

Worksheet links

The link to the worksheet goes to the old requirements from 2006. The full worksheets page has the correct worksheet on it with the new requirements. Can one of the main contributors update this link? This has been pretty challenging for the boys that I have been working with. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Olsenku (talk • contribs) January 27, 2012. (Please, sign and date your posts on talk pages.)

The requirements and worksheet have been updated. Thanks, —RWSmith(Bureaucrat), 11:55, January 30, 2012 (EST)